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Questions tagged [hobbes]

Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) was an English philosopher. He is known for his 1651 book Leviathan.

The following are some sources on Hobbes.

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Was Hobbes a natural law theorist?

I would like to hear some opinions on a question I am asking myself due to contradictions in the references of my term paper. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on "The Natural Law Tradition in Ethics" states: Aquinas was not the only…
iphigenie
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What is the origin of love, in Hobbesian philosophy?

According to Hobbes, Passions are identified as those interior beginnings of motion, by which the imagination eventually motivates us to action. He then describes various emotions such as glory, humility and misery as some passions. How can we…
user1577
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Why wouldn't a government be as tainted as ordinary people according to Hobbes?

I have been watching an episode of Total Philosophy, on Hobbes' theory on why we should be governed. I was now wondering how it could be possible to achieve a just and authoritative government, if people by the state of nature are tainted and…
Yet Another Geek
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What is the difference between the idea of the "social contract" in Hobbes and Locke?

I have just read about them both in an introductory book to philosophy, but I am confused between the interpretations of these two people, of the "social contract" in political philosophy.
F. Munden
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Question on Thomas Hobbes De Ciev, Of Liberty

This mans will to hurt ariseth from Vain glory, and the false esteeme he hath of his owne strength; the other's, from the necessity of defending himselfe, his liberty, and his goods against this mans violence. (Chapter 1, Article 2) This is…
Renegade
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What is the difference between patriarchial right and the paternal right?

I am reading a paper on Hobbes interpretation of patriarchy, which says hobbes patriarchy is non paternal, i.e. he proposes a patriarchal right that is different from paternal right? What is the exact difference between the two?
user1577
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Who originally made a coherent argument that government is inevitable because in "anarchy" a government would come about anyway?

There is a generally known argument, which is that if there is no central authority that maintains a preponderance of violence, then there would be a kind of power vacuum, and some group would fill that power vacuum and become the new central…
user56834
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In the following is Hobbes paraphrasing Aristotle?

In Hobbes Leviathan, chapter II: The imagination he writes: That when a thing lies still, unless somewhat else stirs it, it will lie still forever, is a truth no man doubts of. But that when a thing is in motion, it will be eternally in motion,…
Mozibur Ullah
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Question about Hobbes' distinction between Error and Absurdity

I'm reading Chapter 5 of Hobbes' "Leviathan" (On Reason and Science), and I came across his distinction between Error and Absurdity. Since I don't understand it really well, I tried to come up with definitions for both concepts and I came up with…
Farid Azar
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Hobbes on imagination: mental images or ideas?

Hobbes, in his book Leviathan, second chapter, says: So that imagination and memory are but one thing, which for diverse considerations hath diverse names. Much memory, or memory of many things, is called experience. Again, imagination being only…
user265554
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How do Aristotle and Hobbes differ in their conceptions of the human good?

Hobbes argues that the human good or 'felicity' is 'continual success in obtaining those things which a man from time to time desireth, that is to say, continual prospering' ('Leviathan', ch.6). Aristotle takes a different view, identifying the…
Locomotion
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Did Hobbes start social contract theory?

There seems to be an implicit assumption in Western philosophy that social contract theorizing begun -- or only begun in earnest -- with Hobbes. As an example, this Stanford Encyclopedia entry assumes the earliest social contract account worth…
flen
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Is Hobbes describing a 0th or 1st Law of Nature here?

In Hobbes' Leviathan, specifically section The Fundamental Law Of Nature contained in Chapter XIV, Hobbes says: "And consequently it is a precept, or generall rule of Reason, “That every man, ought to endeavour Peace, as farre as he has hope of…
TomDot Com
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Why is the Hobbesian leviathan less fearful than the state of nature?

In Leviathan, Hobbes argues the importance of self-preservation and the fearful condition of the state of nature, which leads to the formation of a sovereign power that compromises natural liberties in exchange for peace and unity. The government,…
The One
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Have social contract theories arisen in predominently mercantile communities?

The only social contract theory I know about, is the one propounded by Hobbes in The Leviathan. Can one chracterise england at that time as a primarily mercantile community. Have other social contract theories arisen in similar circumstances? I…
Mozibur Ullah
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